SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday raised concerns over the Department of Education’s absorptive capacity, or its ability to fully utilize funds allocated for classroom construction.

He explained that while funding is available, DepEd has historically struggled to spend its allocations effectively due to the complexity and scale of its programs, slowing down the construction of much-needed classrooms nationwide.

“I spoke with Secretary Sonny Angara, and he assured me that new reforms are being introduced to speed up classroom construction,” Gatchalian said.

“For example, funds can be downloaded to local government units, tapped through credible NGOs, or even implemented via public-private partnerships,” he added.

Currently, classroom construction is handled solely by the Department of Public Works and Highways under a long-standing budget provision. Gatchalian noted that this has limited the pace of implementation.

“In fact, LGUs can build classrooms at a cost 30% lower than DPWH. Allowing them to take part would not only make the process faster but also more cost-efficient,” he said.

The senator called for a special provision in the General Appropriations Act authorizing DepEd to enter into agreements with LGUs, NGOs, or private partners for school building projects.

“This was done during President Aquino’s time, and it proved effective because it accelerated classroom construction,” he recalled.

He emphasized that providing funds is not enough, saying: “It’s not just about having the budget. The challenge is to make sure classrooms are built and funds are spent efficiently.”